Fallen Empire: House Rules - House Rules for the Fallen Empire Setting

House Rules for the Fallen Empire Setting

Game Rules: The campaign will use the 3.5 edition Dungeons & Dragons rule set (referred to as “3.5e”) mostly “by the book” with a few modifications. Except where otherwise noted, material from the 3.5e Player’s Handbook and Dungeon Master’s Guide is generally available for players to use. In addition, I have selected certain modified rules (as specified on the site) from Unearthed Arcana for use in the campaign. Subject to review, material from most published Wizards of the Coast sourcebooks is available for use by players with appropriate campaign domestication as needed. If you want to use material from some other source, I may or may not allow it (depending on my assessment of whether it “fits” the campaign and the “soundness” of the proposed option). Most sourcebooks that I own are viable options for the campaign. The specific house rules are:

1. Time: To the extent practicable, the campaign will use the rule that every day out of game is a day in game. Thus, if the campaign meets once every four weeks, there is the potential for four weeks to pass in the campaign between each session.


2. 0^th Level Characters: The campaign will use the rules for starting characters as 0^th level characters.


3. Races: The campaign will use some variant races. These are listed on the campaign page.


4. Fractional Base Bonuses: Because I like them, the campaign will use the fractional base bonuses rule set forth in Unearthed Arcana in the sidebar on page 73. Classes that are listed on this site incorporate this rule information into their descriptions.


5. Favored Classes: There are no favored classes in the campaign. There are no penalties for multiclassing for any characters.


6. Multi-Classing: The multi-classing restrictions for monks are removed as game rules (the multi-classing restrictions for paladins are also removed, but because the base paladin class has been removed from the campaign, this is somewhat moot), although some particular organizations of such individuals may have particular rules regarding the “proper” area of study for those members.


7. Class Skills: All classes gain +8 skill points at 1^st level and +2 skill points per level thereafter. (Note that when using the 0-level rules, the +8 skill points applies to the character's 0^th level rather than their 1^st level).


8. Skills: The following skills have been clarified, or expanded. The campaign will use the Skills by Character house rule. In addition, the campaign will use the expanded Synergy Bonuses listed in that page.
   
   • Craft: Alchemy: As a quasi-magical art, the Craft: Alchemy skill can be used by individuals who are not spell-casters.
   • Knowledge: Local: When this skill is selected, the character must specify the locality for the skill, usually a town, city, or relatively small region. The more specific the locale to which this skill applies, the more detailed the information it provides is. This skill may be taken multiple times. Each time it applies to a different locale.
   • Knowledge: War: This skill covers strategy, tactics, and logistics. At the start of a battle between two opposing forces numbering 50 combatants or more on each side, the leaders of each force may make an opposed Knowledge: War check (a commander may substitute a subordinate’s skill for his own if he delegates command). The winner of this opposed check may bestow a +1 circumstance bonus to attack rolls to a number of allied combatants equal to the margin by which he beat his opponent for a number of rounds equal to his Charisma modifier. Any number of subordinates may use the Aid Another action to increase the commander’s skill result provided he has had time to consult with them while formulating his battle plan.
   • Profession: Scribe: This skill may not be taken by illiterate characters.
   • Speak Language: While not a modification of the speak language skill per se, any time a character experiences a permanent increase in his or her Intelligence bonus, they may, after obtaining appropriate training, learn a new language without expending additional skill points.


9. Racial Bonus Feats: All characters gain a racial bonus feat at 5^th, 10^th, 15^th, and 2^th level.


10. Spellcraft: Because their powers and methods are so different, arcane casters suffer a -5 penalty to Spellcraft checks to identify divine spells, and vice versa. Characters who do not cast spells but have ranks in Spellcraft must specify whether their knowledge pertains more to the arcane or the divine. This is true whether the character is observing spell casting or using the skill to identify magical writing (such as a scroll). Multiclass casters of both arcane and divine spells suffer no penalty.


11. Death and Dying: Instead of the standard rules detailed in the section titled Injury and Death on pages 145-146 of the Player’s Handbook, I’d like to use the following alternate rules. Except where noted here, all other rules detailed in this section are unchanged:
    
    • Disabled: When a character reaches 0 hit points, he is disabled. You remain disabled until you reach a negative hit point total equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum 0, no one is ever disabled at a positive hit point total). You can only take a single move or standard action each turn (but not both, nor can you take full-round actions). You can take move actions without further injuring yourself, but if you perform any standard action (or any other strenuous actions, such as casting a quickened spell) you take 1 point of damage after completing the act. Unless your activity increased your hit points above 0, you remain disabled, unless your negative hit point total exceeds your Constitution modifier, in which case you fall unconscious and are dying. Healing that raises your hit points above 0 makes you fully functional again, just as if you had never been reduced to 0 or fewer hit points. A spell caster retains the spell casting capability she had before becoming disabled. You can also become disabled when recovering from dying. In this case, it is a step towards recovery, and you can have more negative hit points that your Constitution modifier (see Stable Characters and Recovery, below).
    • Dying: When your negative hit point total exceeds your Constitution modifier, but are less than your total Constitution score, you are dying. A dying character immediately falls unconscious and can take no actions. Every round, you must roll a d% to see whether you become stable. You have a percentage chance equal to your Constitution score of becoming stable. If you do not become stable, you lose 1 hit point. This continues until you die or become stable (see below).
    • Dead: When your negative hit point total equals your Constitution score, you die. You can also die from taking ability damage or suffering an ability drain that reduces your Constitution to 0. When a character dies, his soul immediately departs. It is virtually impossible to return from death (see Campaign Rules, Section 5 concerning spells that are generally unavailable in the campaign).
    • Stable Characters and Recovery: On the next turn after your negative hit point total exceeds your Constitution modifier, but is less than your total Constitution score, and on all subsequent turns, roll d% to see whether you become stable. You have a percentage chance equal to your Constitution score to become stable. If you don’t, you lose 1 hit point. When you are unconscious or dying you cannot use any special action that changes the initiative count on which your action occurs. If your negative hit points exceed your Constitution score, you die. Someone can keep you from losing any more hit points and make you stable with a DC 15 Heal check. If any sort of healing cures you of even 1 point of damage, you stop losing hit points and become stable. Healing that raises your hit points to a point where your negative hit point total is equal to or less than your Constitution modifier makes you conscious and disabled. Healing that raises your hit point total to 1 or more makes you fully functional again, just as if you had never been reduced to 0 or lower. A spell caster retains the spell casting capability she had before being in danger of dying.
    • Nonlethal Damage – Staggered and Unconscious: When your nonlethal damage equals your current hit points, but does not exceed it by more than your Constitution modifier, your are staggered (no one is ever staggered at a positive hit point total). You are so roughed up that you can only take a standard action of a move action in each round. You cease being staggered when your current hit points once again exceed your nonlethal damage. When your nonlethal damage exceeds your current hit points by more than your Constitution modifier, you fall unconscious. While unconscious, you are helpless (see Helpless Defenders, page 153 of the Player’s Handbook). Spell casters who fall unconscious retain any spell casting ability they had before going unconscious.


12. Weapon Sizes: The unnecessarily overcomplicated weapon sizing rules in 3.5e will not be used. Instead, the original 3^rd edition weapon sizing rules (because they are easier to work with) will be used. For those of you unfamiliar with these rules, they are simple. All weapons are given a “size”, for example, a short sword is a “Small” weapon, a longsword is a “Medium” weapon, and a greatsword is a “Large” weapon. The size of a weapon compared to a character’s size determines whether the weapon is light, one-handed, two-handed, or too large to use for that character:
    
    • Light: If the weapon’s size category is smaller than the character’s, then the weapon is light for that character. Light weapons are easier to use in the off hand, and they can be used while grappling. A light weapon can be used in one hand. There is no special bonus when using such a weapon in two hands.
    • One-Handed: If the weapon’s size category is the same as a character’s, then the weapon is one-handed for that character. If a one-handed melee weapon is used two-handed, apply one and a half times the character’s Strength bonus to damage (provided the character has a bonus).
    • Two-Handed: If the weapon’s size category is one step larger than a character’s, then the weapon is two-handed for that character. A two-handed melee weapon can be used effectively in two hands, and when damage is dealt with it, add one and a half times the character’s Strength bonus to damage (provided the character has a bonus).
    • Too Large to Use: If the weapon’s size category is two or more steps larger than a character’s own, the weapon is too large for the character to use.
    • Thrown Weapons: Thrown weapons can only be thrown one-handed. A character can throw a thrown weapon with one hand even if it would be two-handed for you due to the character’s size, but doing so counts as a full-round action because the weapon is bulkier and harder to handle than most thrown weapons. Add the character’s Strength bonus to damage.
    • Missile Weapons: A character can use a two-handed projectile weapon (such as a bow or a crossbow) effectively in two hands. If the character has a penalty for low Strength, apply it to damage rolls when you use a bow or a sling. Add no Strength bonus to damage with a projectile weapon unless the weapon is a sling, a mighty composite shortbow, or a mighty composite longbow.
    • Unarmed Strikes: An unarmed strike is two size categories smaller than the character using it.


13. Scribing Scrolls: A single standard scroll can hold up to nine levels worth of spells, combined in any manner the scribe desires. A single scroll could hold one ninth level spell, a fourth and a fifth level spell, nine first level spells, or any combination with total spell levels of nine or less. A cantrip scribed onto a scroll counts as a half-level for the purpose of this rule (therefore, a single scroll could conceivably hold up to eighteen cantrips). For the purpose of calculating the crafting time under the item creation rules, a single scroll may be scribed as if it were a single item, no matter how many spells it holds.


14. Critical Hits: By the standard 3.5e rules, the critical threat range increases from the Improved Critical feat and the Keen weapon enhancement do not stack with one another. I am reversing this to the original 3^rd edition rule, and an individual with the Improved Critical feat who is using a Keen weapon has the base critical threat range of his weapon tripled.


15. Dodge: The Dodge feat as written is somewhat cumbersome to use in play. The Dodge feat as written provides a +1 dodge bonus to Armor Class against one opponent designated each round. Instead, for simplicity, the Dodge feat will simply grant a character a +1 dodge bonus to Armor Class against all attackers. If you are caught flat-footed or otherwise denied your Dexterity bonus, you lose this bonus.


16. Metamagic: For the time being, the use of metamagic and the effects of metamagic feats are both governed by the Highly Experimental Metamagic Rule. This rule is provisional, and may be subject to change if it becomes a problem.
    
    
17. Skill Bonus Feats: There are several feats that give a +2 bonus to two skills, such as Alertness, Diligent, Investigator, Stealthy and so on. Rather than having a dozen or more feats that basically do the same thing, I’m replacing them all with the Skill Augmentation feat.


18. Spell Focus: Abjuration: In addition to its normal effects, the Spell Focus: Abjuration feat grants a +1 caster level bonus when making caster level checks related to spells from the Abjuration school of magic (such as those resulting from casting dispel magic, or banishment), and adds +1 to the DC to disarm magical traps created with spells from the Abjuration school of magic (such as that resulting from casting explosive runes).


19. The Volley Rule: The "volley" rule described on Page 86 of Complete Arcane is the work of a total idiot and should never have been written. If you cast a weaponlike spell with multiple targets, bonuses to damage (including bonuses like sneak attack or skirmish damage, if applicable) apply to all attacks, not just the first one. As a side note, whoever at Wizards of the Coast wrote the volley rule should be banned from every writing game rules again and should hang their heads in shame.


20. Mithral: The rules in the Dungeon Master's Guide concerning the cost of mithral weapons and other non-armor items are unclear. They state that a mithral item costs 500 additional shillings per pound over the base cost for the item, but also say that the item weighs half as much as an item made from other metal, raising the question of whether the 500 shillings per pound cost is applied before or after the weight adjustment. To bring the cost of weaponry in general alignment with the cost of mithral armor, I am ruling that the 500 per pound additional cost is post weight adjustment, with the limitation that the minimum cost for an item made from mithral is 300 shillings of additional cost (so a mithral dagger costs 302 shillings, not 252 shillings).

Home     Fallen Empire

Fallen Empire: Races - Humans

Humans

This is a variant version of humans that will be used in the Fallen Empire campaign setting.

Because the Fallen Empire does not use favored classes, this version of the human race has no defined favored class, but if it did, the favored class would be any class.

Human Racial Traits

• Medium: As Medium creatures, humans have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.


• Human base land speed is 30 feet.


• 1 extra feat at 1^st level.


• 4 extra skill points at 1^st level and 1 extra skill point at each additional level.


• Automatic Language: Common. Bonus Languages: Any (other than secret languages, such as Druidic). See the Speak Language skill.


• Versatility: Humans may add +2 to any one ability score, but they must subtract -2 from another ability score (If they add +2 to their Strength score, they must subtract -2 from two other ability scores). A human character may choose not to do this.

Home     Fallen Empire

Fallen Empire: Races - Half-Elves

Half-Elves

This is a variant version of half-elves that will be used in the Fallen Empire campaign setting. Because elves in the campaign setting were hunted almost to extinction during the Age of Tyranny, many elves took refuge among friendly communities of other races, and inevitably intermixed with them. Many of the remnant elven families have many members who are actually half-elves.

Because the Fallen Empire does not use favored classes, this version of the half-elf race has no defined favored class, but if it did, the favored class would be any class.

Half-Elven Racial Traits

• Medium: As Medium creatures, half-elves have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.


• Half-elf base land speed is 30 feet.


• Immunity to sleep spells and similar magical effects, and a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against enchantment spells or effects.


• Low-Light Vision: A half-elf can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.


• +1 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks.


• +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy and Gather Information checks.


• Elven Blood: For all effects related to race, a half-elf is considered an elf.


• Automatic Languages: Common and Elven. Bonus Languages: Any (other than secret languages, such as Druidic).


• Versatility: Half-elves may add +2 to any one ability score, but they must subtract -2 from another ability score. (If they add +2 to their Strength score, they must subtract -2 for two other ability scores). Alternatively, a half-elf may choose one of the following feats as a bonus feat. The character must meet all prerequisites to take one of these feats: Bonding, Bane Elf, Blood Elf, Death Elf, Earth Elf, Faith Elf, Feign Elf, Fire Elf, Forsaken Elf, Gray Elf, High Elf, Keebler Elf, Lifegiver Elf, Mercy Elf, Moon Elf, Pain Elf, Pale Elf, Red Elf, Star Elf, True Elf, War Elf, Water Elf, Wind Elf, Windrider Elf, Fæy Blood, Grace of the Fæy, Mark of the Fæy, Natural Birth Gift.

Home     Fallen Empire

Fallen Empire: Races - Elves

Elves

This is a variant version of elves that will be used in the Fallen Empire campaign setting. Elves in the campaign setting were hunted almost to extinction during the Age of Tyranny, and the remnants are all members of a handful of isolated families. Each family has developed distinctively in the time since the Age of Tyranny, which is reflected in the various starting elven bonus feats available to elven characters.

Because the Fallen Empire does not use favored classes, this version of the elf race has no defined favored class, but if it did, the favored class would be druid or wizard.

Elven Racial Traits

• +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution.


• Medium: As Medium creatures, elves have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.


• Elf base land speed is 30 feet.


• Immunity to magic sleep effects, and a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells or effects.


• Low-Light Vision: An elf can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. She retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.


• +2 racial bonus on Listen, Search, and Spot checks. An elf who merely passes within 5 feet of a secret or concealed door is entitled to a Search check to notice it as if she were actively looking for it.


• Automatic Languages: Common and Elven. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, and Sylvan.


• Elven Bonus Feat: To represent which of the elven families they come from, elves gain a single bonus feat, selected from the following list. The character must meet all prerequisites to take one of these feats: Bonding, Bane Elf, Blood Elf, Death Elf, Earth Elf, Faith Elf, Feign Elf, Fire Elf, Forsaken Elf, Gray Elf, High Elf, Keebler Elf, Lifegiver Elf, Mercy Elf, Moon Elf, Pain Elf, Pale Elf, Red Elf, Star Elf, True Elf, War Elf, Water Elf, Wind Elf, Windrider Elf, Fæy Blood, Grace of the Fæy, Mark of the Fæy, Natural Birth Gift.

Home     Fallen Empire

Fallen Empire: Races - Dwarves

Dwarves

This is an alternate set of rules for dwarves. Dwarves in the Fallen Empire setting all come from a handful of dwarven clans, reflected in their varied starting bloodgift feats, as outlined below. Since the Fallen Empire setting does not use favored classes, there is no favored class defined for this variant version of dwarves, but if there were, it would be the fighter class.

Dwarven Racial Traits

• +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma.


• Medium: As Medium creatures, dwarves have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.


• Dwarf base land speed is 20 feet. However, dwarves can move at this speed even when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load (unlike other creatures, whose speed is reduced in such situations).


• Darkvision: Dwarves can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and dwarves can function just fine with no light at all.


• Stonecunning: This ability grants a dwarf a +2 racial bonus on Search checks to notice unusual stonework, such as sliding walls, stonework traps, new construction (even when built to match the old), unsafe stone surfaces, shaky stone ceilings, and the like. Something that isn’t stone but that is disguised as stone also counts as unusual stonework. A dwarf who merely comes within 10 feet of unusual stonework can make a Search check as if he were actively searching, and a dwarf can use the Search skill to find stonework traps as a rogue can. A dwarf can also intuit depth, sensing his approximate depth underground as naturally as a human can sense which way is up.


• Stability: A dwarf gains a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground).


• +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison.


• +2 racial bonus on saving throws against spells and spell-like effects.


• +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against orcs and goblinoids.


• +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the giant type. Any time a creature loses its Dexterity bonus (if any) to Armor Class, such as when it’s caught flat-footed, it loses its dodge bonus, too.


• +2 racial bonus on Appraise checks that are related to stone or metal items.


• +2 racial bonus on Craft checks that are related to stone or metal.


• Automatic Languages: Common and Dwarven. Bonus Languages: Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Terran, and Undercommon.


• Dwarven Bonus Feat: To represent their family heritage, dwarves gain a single bonus feat, selected from the following list. The character must meet all prerequisites for the feat: Blood of Kings, Deepblood, Drakeblood, Flameborn Sorcery, Forgeblood, Seaborn Sorcery, Skyborn Sorcery, Stoneblood, Stoneborn Sorcery, Warborn Dwarf

Home     Fallen Empire

Fallen Empire: Religion - The Arrioist Heresy

Arrioist Heresy

The fundamental schism between the Orthodox Belinist faith and the Arrioian sect (known to Orthodox theologians as the “Arrioan Heresy”) centers upon the place of the alleged prophet Arrio, known to his followers as the Right Hand of God. When the first prophet Pavek was writing the earliest books of the Compact of Pavek, he penned a passage that has fomented the deep divide in the followers of the One God. Orthodox scholars of the One God had always recorded Pavek’s lines as saying:

There will be the sum of eight prophets. After me they will come with the teachings and lessons of the One God. Remember you well that the message spoken by the last after me shall be held paramount by all those who are truly faithful.

This brief passage was held to have a self-evident meaning to the Orthodox priests. Pavek foretold that there would be eight true prophets. This number was interpreted to include Pavek. In other words, after Pavek, there would only be seven more true prophets. It seemed to those few who were adherents to the faith that the next few hundred years bore out the words of the First Prophet. In rapid succession the prophets came forward as predicted with their lessons to the growing number of faithful. Olav, Rurik, Ilisa, Tewdwr, Maurelle, Llyn, and Duana each revealed themselves and expanded upon and refined the works of the First Prophet.

The interpretation of Pavek’s message was challenged in the years following the ministry of Duana. During the Age of Imperium, Reynaldo Funesto, a theologian, historian and linguist from Pocolugara transcribed the words of Pavek in a slightly different manner that completely changed the meaning of the passage:

There will be the sum of eight prophets after me. They will come with the teachings and lessons of the One God. Remember you well that the message spoken by the last after me shall be held paramount by all those who are truly faithful.

A handful of followers of the One God began to search for what they believed would be the final prophet that would deliver the most important lessons of the One God. Splinter sects began to sprout up as various claimants to the title of Final Prophet began to assert their divine inspiration. In the eyes of the Orthodox faith these splinter sects were both dangerous and heretical, and it worked assiduously to stamp them out whenever they arose. Pointing to another passage written in the Compact of Pavek, the leaders of the Orthodox faith condemned the splinter groups:

Beware thee those false prophets held under the sway of the beguiling deceivers, for they will lead you astray and into damnation and wickedness in the eyes of the One God.

When the tormented and possibly insane prophet Arrio proclaimed his divine visions and began teaching the terrifying visions of punishment for the unfaithful who had strayed from the absolute edicts of God’s law, he was condemned as yet another false prophet. But his message took stronger hold than the other leaders of splinter sects. His vision of faith came during the depths of the Age of Tyranny, when the Orthodox church had been subverted by the Lich Lords, and his message of a harsh and unforgiving deity demanding atonement from mortals struck a deep chord among many people. Arrio drew more adherents than any other splinter sect had before, and soon his preaching became a true threat to the Orthodox faith and by extension, the Imperium and its rulers the Lich Lords.

So, the debate centers around one question – nine prophets or only eight. Was the statement, “there will be eight prophets”, or, “there will be eight more prophets”? Is Arrio simply a false prophet, or is he the last and most important messenger of the One God described by Pavek? The Arrioists answer this question one way, Orthodox Belinist theologians answer in the other.

As a prophet of the One God, Arrio was different from the prophets who had preceded him. The first difference is temporal: The first nine prophets all appeared within a few centuries during what is now referred to as the Age of Prophecy. By contrast, Arrio did not appear for almost a millennium after the last of the eight had died, during the waning days of the Age of Tyranny. The second distinction concerns the nature of the visions revealed to Arrio. Contrary to those of earlier Belinist holy prophets, Arrio’s prophecies spoke of a deity impatient with a humanity that had failed to heed the teachings of the previous eight prophets. The One God seen through Arrio’s eyes is a vengeful and angry deity who demands strict obedience and discipline, doling out harsh punishments for even the smallest transgression. Members of the sect are required to reject the lessons of forgiveness and mercy as the way of the One God, and show no tolerance for sin.

Belin has faded to the background in the Arrioist faith. He is still referred to as Su Alteza Dios, but has become essentially a figurehead emperor. The central figure to the faith is the prophet Arrio, referred to by the faithful as the Right Hand of God, or simply the Right Hand. Alternatively Arrio is referred to as the Santo Juez for all who seek to approach the grimly depicted Belin must first pass through Arrio’s unpitying gaze. Among the dwellers of the Heulwen Sea, Arrio is variously referred to as Y Cyfraith Rhoddur or Y Mawr Diawl, depending on how the speaker feels about the Right Hand. In liturgy, Arrio is served by a large staff of spirit assistants to help him judge the dead and send them on their reward in the afterlife: Damnation for many, retribution for most others, or paradise for a precious few. Paradise consists of either joining Arrio’s judges or the heavenly congregation that forever praises the One God. Arrioism promises salvation from Hell and safety from Fallen Lords and their servants, including the Lich Lords.

Arrioism demands absolute loyalty from its followers and does not accept or tolerate the existence of other faiths. The Holy Judge is a jealous and intolerant figure as the holy visions bestowed upon him were sent by a deity who is impatient with mankind for failing to adhere to the laws and teachings sent before. His followers will try to eradicate other religions and convert unbelievers - at sword point if necessary. The basic tenets include reverence for Arrio and the law and the destruction of other false religions. Although this faith was originally an offshoot of the Orthodox faith, Arrioians condemn followers of that religion as heretics and pariahs, who are to be hunted down and killed whenever found. It is an austere faith with solid and impressively sized but somewhat plain religious buildings. Many things are forbidden to worshippers of this religion – women are barred from the clergy, believers may not consort with non-Arrioian mystical creatures, or followers of other faiths, and so on.

The faith is very legalistic and within the church form is generally more important than substance, and order and power are more important than justice. Arrioians believe that Belin requires sacrifices of money, blood, and glory to appease his eternal wrath. The clergy within the church are organized into a strict hierarchy and rankings are scrupulously observed. The Armadiosas, Encuestaros and Canon troops are rigidly ranked and organized as well. For all of its other faults, the church is very much a meritocracy as it relies upon the abilities of its members for survival in the face of enemies from within and without.

The most frequent religious ritual of the Arrioian Church is the Ofrenda, which is observed at least once per month by every Arrioian community. The central figure is the Suplente, which may be a person or more typically an animal. Throughout the ritual, the priest leading the Ofrenda invests the Suplente with the sins and transgressions of the worshippers and charges it with carrying the pleas of the faithful to the Santo Juez. At the end of the ceremony, the Suplente is ritually sacrificed by puncturing its throat and allowing the blood to wash over the altar, symbolically cleansing the sins of the faithful. The human Suplentesos are usually condemned criminals given a chance at redemption by participation in the ritual, but are occasionally innocent people chosen by the clergy.

For two months of the year the faithful observe the Camarero, a time of religious fervor that is designed to remind worshipers of the privation and suffering endured by Arrio when he was granted his visions. During this time, Arrionians abstain from eating meat, and many eat only the ritual food of wild onions and berries with bitter herbs and corn meal bread that Arrio is said to have subsisted upon during his visionary period. This period of time is for reflection and contemplation rather than action and most Arrionians will undertake no radically new task during this period. For example, while a blacksmith will accept new ironwork during the Camarero, he would not decide to put aside his hammer and take up the priesthood. Priests usually spend most of their time meditating during the Camarero, usually asking for the correct answers to questions or proper solutions to thorny problems to be revealed by God. If a new Cardenal must be selected by the Consejo, they meet during this time to decide who should fill the position. Initiates who are ready to join the priesthood or Armadiosas ready to undertake their final test do so during this time.

Once per year, on the accepted anniversary of Arrio’s death, which is coincidentally the last day of the Camarero, the church holds its high holy ritual, the Celebracione Muerte, an observance that always features a human Suplente. The observance celebrates the moment that God took his faithful Right Hand to his divine court to serve as the judge of souls and is a time for new beginnings. New members of the holy orders are invested, promotions within the priesthood take effect, children born during the previous year are named, life changing decisions are made, new treaties are declared and new wars are begun.

There are three accepted holy sites for the faithful. The first is the holy city of the Teocracia, Almagloria. Not only was Almagloria formerly the seat of the Patriarchs, but it is also the location where Arrio purportedly began his ministry and taught the truths of God as revealed to him before he was condemned and imprisoned by the Patriarch for heresy. It was in Almagloria, both before and during his imprisonment that Arrio wrote the Holy Scriptures detailing the laws of God. The second is Rojopiedra, where Arrio died an outcast high in the Barrera Mountains of Oropais Isle. The site is now marked by a red rock neighboring the Facultad where the most favored and wealthy Arrionians study law, theology, the power of God, and a myriad of other subjects. Finally, the third holy site is the Gloriasitio, located in the rocky hills of Pocolugara where Arrio is said to have had his three month long series of visions that revealed to him the will of God. This site is now covered by the religious fortress Roca de Dios, maintained by the Armadiosas as a training site for initiates into the order of warrior-monks.

At both Rojopiedra and Gloriasitio the Ofrenda is performed every day as many of the faithful make a pilgrimage to each at least once in their lifetime and many journey there more often than that. The ceremony of the Ofrenda is usually performed by local priests. On the Celebracione Muerte each of these sites features a large number of sacrifices and impressive displays of faith and devotion.

The colors associated with Arrioism are red and purple, and the symbol of the faith is a single red arrow pointing upward on a purple field. In battle priests and devotees of this faith are expected to be merciless in nature and remorseless in action. All people who do not bow down to the power and glory of the Fielidor are regarded as heretics and members of the clergy are required to convert or eliminate them. Arrioians warriors going into battle against nonbelievers usually dedicate the souls of their fallen foes to the Right Hand so that their dying blood will wash the earth clean where it had been stained by their infidel footsteps.

Church Structure

The head of the church is the Fielidor who has unquestioned authority over the entire faith. Unlike the Orthodox Church, the Arrioans maintain that spiritual guidance must always be backed by temporal power, and have maintained the church's entwinement with politics - in fact, the doctrine of the Arrioist Church is that the church and the government are one, and church leaders must also lead the state. As such, the Fielidor is not only the supreme head of the faith, he is also the ruler of the Teocracia, the political body encompassing all the areas where the arrioans hold sway.

The Cardenal is ranked second in theological authority and is the successor to the Fielidor. Although he outranks all other members of the religious order, the special responsibility of the Cardenal is the Pregunta. Below the Cardenal is the Consejo, a body of nine powerful and faithful priests who bear the title Consejal. This body advises the Fielidor and Cardenal and helps rule over the vast holdings of the Teocracia by holding various administrative offices within the hierarchy of the government. The Consejo also elects a new Cardenal when the position is vacant.

Territory directly held by the Teocracia is divided into provinces of varying sizes and ruled over by Arzobispos or Obispos selected by the Consejo. All territory that owes the church allegiance (directly or indirectly), is divided into military districts which are administered by military governors appointed by the Fielidor. Within areas directly ruled by the Teocracia, the boundaries of military districts and provinces are usually coterminous and the military governor will defer to the authority of the ecclesiastical ruler of the area. In areas indirectly ruled by the Teocracia, the boundaries of the military districts are usually drawn with local political conditions in mind and military governors are assigned a religious advisor to keep their actions in accord with the will of the Fielidor.

Home     Fallen Empire

Fallen Empire: Religion - Dvas'tiesan Mysticism

Dvas'tiesan Mysticism

Spirit of Truth

Dvas'tiesan Mysticism, commonly referred to as Tiesan Mysticism, is a specific expression of druidism that arose among elvenkind during the Age of Tyranny. This faith holds that divinity is simply the sum total of living creatures. They hold nature to be sacred as it is the primary component of the Living Spirit. The tenets of this faith form more of a belief in an ideal than the worship of a concrete deity. This faith is especially prevalent among elves, and most members of that race adhere to this creed. Outside of the elves, the faith is fairly rare, but some mages, a number of khülen and a handful of half-elves adhere to the philosophy. It is a secretive religion and takes any actions outside of elven communities quietly and without drawing notice to itself.

The religion is associated with the number four, and the symbol of the faith is a four pointed silver star on a white field. Druids devoted to this philosophy may be identified by their silver and gray robes adorned with the symbol of the faith. The faith holds the moon to be sacred, and the holy days of the religion are the full and new moons of each month, as well as the equinoxes of the year. The sign of the faith is a raised palm turned outwards with four upraised fingers.

This faith was founded by elves who allied themselves with friendly khülen in opposing the machinations of the Lich Lords. Although the cult started small and was by necessity secretive due to the rampaging hordes of the Empire, it slowly grew in size, becoming popular among the bands of khülen living alongside elves who gravitated to the naturalistic faith that also attracted many humans and other elves. There are four maxims that set forth the fundamental tenets of the faith, and as a result, the number four is holy to members.

First, followers are expected to always be accountable for their actions. The most important religious ceremony a member of the Dvas’tiesa can participate in is the Circle of Truth. In this ritual, all members gather together in a circle and one by one each speaks the truth of any wrongs he has done and bathes his head with a cup of cool water. After ritually washing away the sin of falsehood, the follower vows to take whatever action seems appropriate in order to repair the wrong. Any member of the circle may challenge the oath as being too weak.

The second tenet requires that adherents only destroy what is absolutely necessary for the preservation of the goals of the religion. While they do not shrink from conflict if it is forced upon them, no Tiesist will seek out a fight if it is not an absolute necessity. In addition, they will avoid unnecessary destruction when they do fight and will become outraged at wanton rapacity or cruelty.

The third tenet of the faith requires that Tiesists preserve and restore the natural world. They are fundamentally conservationists, and seek to repair the damage sentient creatures have done to the natural world. They will attempt to replace cut trees, and rebuild forests and natural areas. In addition, they believe that it is easier to preserve something than it is to rebuild it, so they are very protective of natural sites that they can defend. Tiesists regard preservation and restoration as a religious duty, and become outraged by wholesale destruction. For example, although the Imperial clear cutting of many forests was strategically devastating to the Tiesists, it is also a religious affront as the Empire appeared to simply be engaging in wholesale destruction for the purpose of achieving short term military goals.

Finally, the fourth tenet requires that Tiesists maintain the harmony and balance between magic and nature. They are required to avoid harming the physical world with the overload of magical energies. Tiesists feel a duty to prevent others from also engaging in such destructive actions, and oppose those who appear to be recklessly or intentionally courting this danger. They are also required to prevent the use of evil magic to destroy or harm the natural world.

Home     Fallen Empire

Fallen Empire: Religion - Druids

Druids

While the Church of Belin (and its evil opposition among the cults of the Fallen) ascribe divinity to ethereal spirits divorced from, but holding authority over, the mundane world, those who follow the druidic teachings see the divine in the very elements of the world: the sun, the sky, the water, the earth, the trees and the other elements of the natural world. The Church of Belin calls their deity the Increate and Pancreator, asserting that Belin existed before all other things, and created everything else in existence, while the core tenet of the druids maintains that existence itself predates everything in the form of a universal world-spirit identified as the Grym. Druids consider the various spiritual beings honored by other faiths (including the Church of Belin) simply to be subordinate manifestations of the Grym. Although most common among elven communities, where it is the dominant faith, the druidic tradition has adherents of all races, mostly humans, halflings, and dwarves, but also including giants, gnomes, goblins, and orcs among others.

According to the druids, only by unlocking the secrets hidden in the mountains, forests, and rivers can true understanding be gained. Like the devotees of the Church of Belin, druids believe that prophecy can be found in the movements of the stars, but they also believe that omens and portents can be found in the sounds of the wind, the fall of rocks from a mountain, the shape of a tree, the currents in a lake, and the rising and setting of the sun and moon. Druid shrines are typically sacred groves, hidden pools, natural springs, or rock formations, but adherents to this faith also erect henges, dolmens, menhirs, and other arrangements of standing stones to mark important holy sites. Detailing all of the druid’s beliefs is impossible, since they share so few universal tenets, and many druid circles oppose one another; in rare cases, opposing circles have been known to settle their differences via bloodshed.

Common druidic belief holds that a number of religious rites must be performed to honor the Grym, and if done incorrectly will spell disaster. Druids lead and direct these rituals, which constitute an important part of daily life in druidic communities, usually involving complex invocations. These rites are learned during the long years of training and while performing them, a druid typically must fast, wear the correct clothing, and follow a variety of other specific taboos. Unlike the Church of Belin, there is only a loose governing authority over the druids, and the rites vary from place to place, and some druid circles have dark and sometimes frightening interpretations of the appetites they attribute to the Grym. Druidic practices come in a variety of forms: because the Grym is an all-encompassing entity, circles can be found that variously espouse the divinity of the orderly, random, benevolent, or even malevolent nature of the world power. To attempt to describe the overall theology and practices of the druidic faith in more detail than given here would be impossible, as these tenets can vary wildly from place to place, and from circle to circle.

Druids are far less organized than the Church of Belin. Each druid begins his career as a member of a druid circle (and unless he becomes a hierophant, may stay one), a loose collection of like-minded druids connected by ties of family, clan, tribe, philosophy, or merely locality. Some druid circles are tied to a particular location, and thus they may have many members located in a single area; others may be devoted to a particular belief or philosophy, and thus be composed of a handful of members scattered across a vast area. Once in a while, a druid finds that his beliefs conflict with those of his circle, and in such cases a druid might seek out a new circle to join or, rarely, establish a new circle. While details of practice and tenets of belief vary from circle to circle, the similarities generally outnumber the differences, a condition probably attributable to the overarching authority of the hierophants, an overarching council of powerful druids who theoretically have authority over all of the various circles. Within druid circles, there are generally four ranks of members. Although these ranks roughly correspond to the druid class level of the member (due to the requirements of the ordeals), the correlation is not exact, and some junior members of druid circles may not even be members of the druid class at all – adepts, bards, and rangers are the most common non-druid members. The ranks are:

• Initiate: Initiate are those members studying to enter the ranks of druids and become ovates. They spend much of his time studying under more experienced members of the druidic order. They are not considered full druids until they complete their basic studies and undergo the ovedic ordeal, at which they must demonstrate their skills and learning. Before an initiate may attempt the ovedic ordeal, he must spend at least seven years in study, but some circle members remain initiates throughout their careers, for example, a ranger who is a member of a druid circle might remain an initiate his entire life.


• Ovate: Ovates are members of the first level of a druidic circle that is actually composed of individuals who are considered priests of the druidic faith. An ovate has learned all of the legends, stories, histories and myths that make up the religious foundation of the druidic faith, and has mastered the ability to tap into the power of the Grym and wield power as a result. Ovates are usually members of the druid class, but on occasion, a powerful adept, bard, or ranger might pass the test and become an ovate.


• Ollave: An ovate who has trained for fourteen years may undertake the ollave ordeal. An ollave is regarded as a full priest, and accorded significant authority in druid circles. Authority does not come without responsibility, and an ollave is expected to act as a judge, counselor, mediator, or diviner if requested. Ollaves are expected to lead community rituals, and interpret omens, dreams, and signs. Ollaves are almost always members of the druid class, the requirements of the ollave ordeal virtually preclude members of any other class from passing the test.


• Druid: While ovates and ollaves are accorded the rank of priests in the druid circle, and thus are technically druids, only the highest ranking priests within a circle bear the title druid. An ollave who have trained for at least seven more years (for a total of twenty-one years of training) may attempt to become a full druid. This requires yet another, more difficult ordeal and the assent of the other members of the circle. All members of a circle of druid rank are members of the druid class, and are usually significantly powerful members as well. Full druids are responsible for the governance of their circle, and charged with overseeing the most important issues confronting the circle. Druids are the judges of last resort, the diviners and soothsayers of the most important portents, and so forth.


• Hierophant: While a druid is the most senior rank within a druid circle, the hierophants transcend circles, forming a kind of supernuminary council that resolves issues between druid circles or determine overarching questions of religious import. A druid who has served in that rank for at least seven years has the option of leaving his circle to pursue his own path and become a hierophant. To the extent druidism has any kind of overall governing body, it is the loose collection of heirophants, all of whom pursue their own inquiries into the nature of reality and divinity. Although heirophants have no formal authority, they are greatly respected and most druid circles carefully consider their advice, in many cases taking the pronouncements and suggestions made by hierophants as binding judgments. On rare occassions, when matters of dire import are in the offing, groups of heirophants will gather together to perform great divinations and seek guidance from the divine world spirit.

Home     Fallen Empire

Fallen Empire: Religion - Domains for Clerics of the Church of Belin

Domains for Clerics of the Church of Belin

Clerics of the various holy orders of the Church of Belin derive their domains from two sources. The first is the divine power of the Increate itself. A cleric of the Church may pick one of the following domains: Celestial, Good, Light, and Sun. Lawful good clerics devoted to Belin may choose the Celestia domain.

The second source of a cleric of the Church's domains is the patron archangel, angel, sainted prophet, or saint of the holy order they have devoted themselves to. The most prominent holy orders are those of the seven Avatra and the eight sainted prophets. The domains associated with the seven Avatra are:

	Auriel, Archangel of Healing	Moon, Healing, and Protection
	Caphriel, Archangel of Earth	Craft, Earth, and Strength
	Hananiel, Archangel of Water	Storm, Travel, and Water
	Imriel, Archangel of Fire	Fire, Glory, and War
	Jophiel, Archangel of Magic	Knowledge, Magic, and Repose
	Malchidiel, Archangel of Air	Air, Luck, and Sky
	Uriel, Archangel of Nature	Animal, Fertility, and Plant

The holy orders devoted to the eight sainted prophets are often referred to as the Academic Orders, as they are entrusted with ensuring the integrity of the liturgy of the faith. The Academic Orders are also charged with examining potential new additions to the scripture and determining whether to add them to the canon or consign them to the apochrypha. Unlike most orders devoted to angels or other saints, the orders devoted to the sainted prophets have access to two additional domains to choose from. The domains associated with the sainted prophets are:

	Saint Duana the Merciful	Love and Pleasure
	Saint Ilisa the Faithful	Beauty and Joy
	Saint Maurelle the Righteous	Life and Truth
	Saint Llyn the Repentant	Hope and Wisdom
	Saint Olav the Devoted	Courage and Inspiration
	Saint Pavek the Oracle	Oracle and Prophecy
	Saint Rurik the Just	Divination and Justice
	Saint Tewdwyr the Obedient	Community and Destiny

Ranked below the seven Avatra in the celestial hierarchy are the other angels. WHile some of these angels appear alongside the Avatra in the eight primary books of the faith, many of them appear in their own, shorter works appended to the Compact of Pavek as part of the slowly growing canon of scripture recognized by the Church. Most of the orders devoted to these angels provide their devoted followers with one additional domain to choose from, although in some rare cases one of the angelic orders will provide their priests with enough training to be able to choose from two additional domains.

	Adoniel, Angel of Plenty	Feast
	Aduachiel, Angel of Exiles	Exile
	Ahadiel, Angel of Reckoning	Lightning
	Akatriel, Angelic Herald of Yesod	Herald
	Anachiel, Angel of Purification	Purification
	Ataphiel, Angel of the Sacred Flame	Flame
	Azariel, Angel of Storms	Windstorm
	Barachiel, Angel of Visions	Foresight
	Calliel, Angel of the Celestial Throne	Holy
	Cambriel, Angel of Arcane Learning	Spell
	Domiel, Angel of Vengeance	Vengeance
	Donachiel, Angel of Desire	Dance
	Egalmiel, Angel of Passion	Passion
	Elimiel, Angel of the Moon	Nature
	Ezekiel, Angel of Transformation	Transformation
	Gabriel, Angel of Eternal Rest	The Dead
	Gazardiel, Angel of Dawn	Renewal
	Gradiel, Angel of Might	Force
	Hadakiel, Angel of Ascension	Summoning
	Hismael, Angel of Harvests	Weather
	Hodniel, Angel of Alacrity	Celerity
	Ithuriel, Angel of Redemption	Pact
	Jariel, Angel of Peace	Peace
	Jehudiel, Angel of the Stars	Heaven
	Kyriel, Angel of the Celestial Spheres	Time
	Leliel, Angel of Dreams	Dream
	Madriel, Angel of Light	Solace
	Modiniel, Angel of Crusades	Crusader
	Muphiel, Angel of Compassion	Suffering
	Nahaliel, Angel of Rivers	River
	Nangriel, Angel of Restraint	Restoration
	Nathaniel, Angel of Exaction	Exorcism
	Omniel, Angel of Birth	Family
	Ophiel, Angel of Meditation	Meditation
	Oriel, Angel of Poetry	Eloquence
	Prukiel, Angel of Spellbinding	Mentalism
	Rachiel, Angel of Marriage	Hearth
	Radeuriel, Angel of Music	Sound
	Raphael, Angel of Vigilance	Valor
	Raziel, Angel of Wrath	Wrath
	Remiel, Angel of Mercy	Rainbow
	Sachiel, Angel of Freedom	Liberation
	Sahaquiel, Angel of Thunder	Thunder
	Sangrariel, Angelic Gatekeeper of Yesod	Doorways
	Sariel, Angel of Inquisition	Law
	Sealtiel, Angelic Guardian of Yesod	Guardian
	Seraquiel, Angel of Divine Strength	Hero
	Suriel, Angel of Preservation	Deathless
	Tahariel, Angel of Chastity	Purity
	Theliel, Angel of Battle	Combat
	Turmiel, Angel of the Sea Winds	Ocean
	Tzadakiel, Angel of Righteous Anger	Fury
	Uzziel, Angel of Virtue	Endurance
	Verchiel, Angel of Learning	Planning
	Yashiel, Angel of Retribution	Retribution
	Zachriel, Angel of Thought	Mind
	Zaphkiel, Angel of Judgment	Judgment
	Zophiel, Angel of Truth	Endings
	Zuriel, Angel of Battle	Warfare

In addition to the holy orders devoted to the Avatra, the sainted prophets and the lesser angels, there are numerous venerated lesser saints. Most of these saints have relatively small but devoted followings, and usually have an area of interest that is relatively narrow. The priests devoted to these lesser saints invariably all have access to only a single additional domain. In some cases, the saintly orders provide other benefits but do not have the institutional capability to train priests.

	Saint Ådon, Patron Saint of Fishermen	Fish
	Saint Aesun, Patron Saint of Illusionists	Illusion
	Saint Aine Patron, Saint of Avians	Bird
	Saint Angharad, Patron Saint of Newlyweds	Charm
	Saint Anu, Patron Saint of Woodsmen	Wood
	Saint Barconius, Patron Saint of Gnomes	Gnome
	Saint Beli, Patron Saint of Rulers	Nobility
	Saint Belinos, Patron Saint of Just Causes	Competition
	Saint Brid, Patron Saint of Lovers	Entrancement
	Saint Caire, Patron Saint of Halflings	Halfling
	Saint Calis, Patron Saint of Storytellers	Lore
	Saint Chausle, Patron Saint of the Knights of the Pale
	Saint Colwyn, Patron Saint of Dragon Hunters	Dragon
	Saint Daris, Patron Saint of the Knights of the Pale
	Saint Drendari, Patron Saint of Shadow-Walkers
	Saint Durand, Patron Saint of Spelunkers	Cavern
	Saint Feldin, Patron Saint of the Knights of the Pale
	Saint Feranor, Patron Saint of Architects	Creation
	Saint Fjarj, Patron Saint of Dwarves	Dwarf
	Saint Füllar, Patron Saint of Gamblers	Fate
	Saint Goran, Patron Saint of Weaponsmiths	Metal
	Saint Govan, Patron Saint of Blacksmiths	Iron
	Saint Gustav, Patron Saint of the Knights of the Pale
	Saint Gwydion, Patron Saint of Justicars	Inquisition
	Saint Hroth, Patron Saint of Runemakers	Rune
	Saint Kalador, Patron Saint of Magewrights	Artifice
	Saint Llyr, Patron Saint of Seafarers	Ocean
	Saint Lothian, Patron Saint of Travelers	Gateways
	Saint Nari, Patron Saint of Merchants	Trade
	Saint Nuada, Patron Saint of Golemwrights	Constructs
	Saint Oghma, Patron Saint of Scholars	Portal
	Saint Olvin, Patron Saint of Giant Hunters	Ranger
	Saint Pfuscher, Patron Saint of Ironborn	Machine
	Saint Phieran, Patron Saint of Martyrs	Mysticism
	Saint Syfa, Patron Saint of Hunters	Hunting
	Saint Taliesin, Patron Saint of Bards and Musicians	Bard
	Saint Valarian, Patron Saint of Elves	Elf
	Saint Vali, Patron Saint of Fallen Warriors	Ancestor
	Saint Valira, Patron Saint of Rogues	Trickery
	Saint Vidar, Patron Saint of Stonemasons	Stone
	Saint Wreylund, Patron Saint of Armorsmiths	Armor
	Saint Wünd, Patron Saint of Craftsmen	The Forge
	Saint Yessid, Patron Saint of the Knights of the Pale
	Saint Yng, Patron Saint of Forest Dwellers	Fæy

Home     Fallen Empire

Fallen Empire: Religion - The Fallen Lords

The Fallen Lords

In opposition to the seven Avatra are seven fearsome Fallen Lords, an appellation given to the leaders of the celestial rebellion against the Pancreator that led to the War in Yesod. Before their rebellion, these seven were ranked as the greatest of the celestial host, and they carried their true names. They and their followers, the jotunar, were defeated by the Avatra and the other faithful angels due to the sacrifices offered by the Avatra, and the names of the Fallen Lords were taken from them, replaced with titles reflecting their villainy. While the Avatra and the orders devoted to them are united in their allegiance to Belin, and form a single Church, the Fallen Lords seem to have no common agenda other than a desire to overthrow the angelic host and replace Belin’s power with their own, and each seems to believe that he (or she, if such distinctions matter to these beings) is best suited to assume the celestial throne in Belin’s place. In truth, those who worship the dark power of one of the Fallen Lords tend to despise and oppose those who follow another, and many of these cults spend as much time battling each other as they do attempting to advance their causes against the forces faithful to Belin.

Deceiver: the Source of 500 Poisons. The Deceiver appears as an old, balding lecher dressed in black velvet. His tongue is his primary weapon, and his skill to obfuscate, deceive, and lie are paramount, and he always seems to be holding back a mocking comment. Self possessed, confident, and fond of intricate plots, though his schemes rarely achieve his desired result. He is regarded as a master of magic intended to confuse and mislead. In the War in Yesod, the Deceiver was matched by Hananiel, who, like the implacable tide, could not be turned, confused, or deceived. His symbol is a black mask.

Leveler: of Mighty Blows. Also called, “the Leg-Breaker”, renowned for his ability to smash almost anything to the ground, the Leveler appears as a massive beast of mighty proportions who exists only for war and destruction, with bloodlust matched only by his martial magnificence. Scripture speaks of swords and arrows bouncing off him as he annihilated entire armies with his crushing blows, but he was matched, strength for strength by Caphriel, whose mighty hammer crushed even the Leveler. His symbol is a broken thigh bone.

Lurker: Mistress of Catastrophe. The Lurker appears as a white-skinned maiden of immense beauty clad in white robes. Cowardly but vengeful by nature, she earned her name because of her preference for attacking when unseen and is a powerful bully. Her followers often specialize in weather magic, and soften up her enemies with natural disasters before revealing their presence and intentions, often leaving nothing but ruin and destruction in their wake. She was defeated by Uriel, whose power to preserve and defend outlasted the Lurker’s power to despoil and destroy. Her symbol is a trio of radiating lightning bolts.

Shiver: the Spawn of Hell’s Winter. Shiver is the mistress of winter, fear, and nightmares – her one weakness is her vanity. She has a cold and calculatingly cruel nature, and an icebound heart. Once she had a gauzy appearance at turns beautiful and bestial, but in the War in Yesod, she was struck by one of Malchidiel’s arrows, and is now withered and injured, a condition that causes her to remain in a constant shrieking rage. When she does appear, it is as a withered old crone with a scarred, tattooed face. Her symbol is a white snowflake on a gray diamond.

Soulblighter: Dark Enemy of the World. Plate armored and wielding a great curved sword, he is the perfect blend of war and magic. He is the lord of tyrants, usurpers, and slave-holders, his clergy believes that the strong should hold power over the weak. Soulblighter is petty, self-centered, and megalomaniacal, who holds himself above all other beings, even Belin. His visage is unknown, as he is depicted in a full suit of black, blood encrusted full plate. He was defeated in the War in Yesod by Imriel’s power. His symbol is a scimitar coated with blood.

Voiceless: the Loveless Child of Unwed Dawn. Always depicted in a black, hooded cloak with no visible face, the Voiceless is silent and deadly. The queen of assassins, her spirit slips through the night on secret missions known only to her. Everything that mortals fear about darkness is personified in this cruel entity. In the War in Yesod, she was defeated by Auriel, who brought light into the darkness, and drove the Voiceless away into hiding. Her symbol is a black female hand wearing silver rings.

Watcher: the Mad Goat of the Fens. Vain, selfish, petty, but canny, and consumed with vengeance, the Watcher appears as a one-armed, decayed corpse clad in red and purple robes bearing a skull-headed rod. In the War in Yesod, the Watcher was overcome by Jophiel, who used his mastery of the arcane arts to wither his right arm, put out his right eye, and temporarily steal the Watcher’s arcane power. Unhinged and insane as a result of the loss of his right arm and eye, he harbors special hatred of Jophiel, and especially hates the stars in the night sky that he believes are intended to mock and humiliate him. The Watcher is the master of necromancy and undeath, and his symbol is an eye in concentric purple and black circles.

Jotunar
When the Fallen Lords rebelled against Belin, they convinced many of the others in the celestial host to join in their uprising, deceiving them with promises of power and authority, or merely by appealing to their hidden evil natures. These fallen celestials form the infernal horde and are now known as the jotunar. Where these beings were once filled with supernatural beauty and grace, their vile and malevolent natures have left most of them now twisted and hideous mockeries of their former selves. Despite their vile nature, these beings are honored and venerated by many mortals, who gather in covens and dark temples to perform unspeakable rites to their evil masters. Those who honor the jotunar are far outnumbered by those who worship the Fallen Lords, and many of these beings have a following that can claim no more than a handful of devoted cultists. As there is no unified Church to account for the myriad of cults spawned by the jotunar, recording an accurate count of the number of jotunar who have followings is impossible. Some of the more notorious and infamous cults venerate Baal, the great serpent, Gangyn, the spider spirit, Halpas, patron of vile fury, Khil, patron of the evil below, Kivutar, mistress of plague, and Sirchade of the slime pit.

Accursed
Just as there are mortals whose holy demeanor, devotion, and piety have earned themselves an honored position among the Church of Belin, there are some cruel mortals whose vile depravity and infamy has gained them a following. These are the Accursed, the anti-Saints, whose cruelty and venom in life was so great in life that their memory stirs evil followers and demon-worshipping cultists to honor them after their death. As there is no organized Church to officially count the cults that form around these personalities, a full accounting of the number of Accursed is impossible (even though several minor orders of the Church of Belin endeavor to do so, that they may arm those who oppose these cults with knowledge of the foes they face). While the number of Accursed cults may number in the hundreds, few good-folk know of more than a handful, and most see no reason to change that situation. Among the more well-known Accursed are Sreng, accursed lord of murders, Surtan, accursed lord of fire giants, Tyrma, accursed lord of the frost giants, and Tuni, accursed lord of ghouls.

Home     Fallen Empire

Fallen Empire: Religion - The Church of Belin

The Church of Belin

The dominant religion in Dunmar and much of the rest of the former Imperium is the Church of Belin (“the Church”), centered upon Belin, a deity associated with good, light, and the sun, also called the Increate, the Pancreator, Lord of the Risen Sun, or the Father of Light. Belin is omnipresent, yet unseen, within the universe yet not made of it, a creator whose work remains mysterious. That is, the Increate is an infinite being who is supremely good, who created all, who knows all, and can do all, who is transcendent over and imminent in creation, and who loves the mortal races. The core tenets, teachings, and dogma of his faith are primarily found in a set of books of sacred writings penned by a series of eight (since sainted) prophets. The first, written by Pavek the Oracle, details how Belin created the archangels and the celestial host, directed their creations of heaven, the sea, and the earth, the revolt of the rebellious angels who became the Fallen Lords and their followers, the jotunar, the War in Yesod, including the sacrifice of the Avatra, and the subsequent expulsion from heaven of the rebels. Pavek's book, the Compact of Pavek, is the primary basis of the faith, and outlines the vision of an ordered, just, and holy society that his account says came to him in the light of the first sunrise of spring in divine inspiration.

Appended to Pavek's work are seven books concerning the doings of the seven archangels known as the Avatra: The Book of Auriel written by the prophet Duana the Merciful, the Book of Caphriel written by the prophet Olav the Devoted, the Book of Hananiel written by the prophet Tewdwyr the Obedient, the Book of Imriel written by the prophet Maurelle the Righteous, the Book of Jophiel written by the prophet Rurik the Just, the book of Malchidiel written by the prophet Llyn the Repentant, and the Book of Uriel written by the prophet Ilisa the Faithful, each one written by a different prophet. Most Good clerics are members of the Church, and are organized into seven major orders (each venerating a different archangel), plus a number of minor ones (associated with other, lesser angels, or saints). All known paladins are also members of this faith, as are most Good-aligned rangers (although some Good-aligned rangers are members of the druidic faith, or one of the rural cults). The Church’s colors are gold and red, and the symbol of the faith is a gold disk on a red field (in heraldic terms – gules, a bezant). The shape of the circle has particular significance: The sign of the faith is a circle drawn over the heart with the forefinger and middle finger. Clerics of the faith pray for their spells at sunrise, Belin’s daily symbolic rise to power.

Basic Theology
Belin existed before everything else, as the first, and only, self-created entity (giving him the appellation the Increate). As Pancreator he gave life to the celestial host of archangels, angels, archons, eldarin, and guardinals, and directed their efforts to create Yesod and the earth. When the work was completed, he set this celestial host to maintaining, protecting, and nurturing the world. Seven of the most powerful archangels became jealous of their charges, determining that it was right and proper for their power to be recognized and served with obedience. These seven, now known as the Fallen Lords convinced many others in the celestial host to follow, and with this army rebelled against Belin seeking to seize his heavenly throne. Belin withdrew in the face of this treason, and declared that his work would have to stand or fall of its own accord. Those of the celestial host who remained faithful to Belin were at first thrown back by the jotunar (as the rebellious angels were now called) as the most powerful archangels and other celestials had arrayed against them. At this time, seven remaining faithful archangels, called the Avatra, petitioned Belin, and each made a sacrifice of something dear to them as a show of fidelity. In reward, Belin restored what the Avatra had sacrificed, and elevated them to his side as his lieutenants. Fortified by Belin’s power, the Avatra and the remaining members of the celestial host drove the Fallen Lords and their followers out of Yesod.

The faith is a demanding one that promises strength and salvation for the virtuous and obedient worshiper who faithfully attempts to follow Belin’s laws and strictures. Followers of this faith are gently intolerant of other faiths and deny the divinity of all other espoused gods. They will attempt to use moral suasion, coercion, ridicule and any other means to prevent people from following other religions and proselytize in favor of their faith. Worshipers of this religion behave with the confidence and arrogance of those who believe themselves to be infallibly directed by divinity.

As the faith is devoted to the divinity of the sun personified in Belin, the cycle of the orb plays a prominent role in religious ceremonies. The High Holy Day of Orthodox Belinism is midsummer, when members of the faith celebrate the eternal powers of the Father of Light on the longest day of the year. They also hold important religious ceremonies during midwinter as they supplicate Belin to bring forth the sun again and bless the world with his divine light. At these times worshippers plead for the return of the favor of the Lord of the Risen Sun. Each of the eight prophets recognized by the Belinist faith and each of the Avatra, as well as many angels and saints also has a holy day dedicated to their memory and special ceremonies are performed on those days. On holy days worshippers seek to gain Belin’s favor by offering sacrifices of wine, gold, precious objects and promises of faithful service.

Belin claims jurisdiction over the souls of mortals after they die and asserts the right to keep them in his realms. Belinsts are outraged by undead beings and are forbidden to raise the dead without a sign from their god that it is an appropriate act (usually in the form of an omen or portent indicating that a particular worshipper must be returned to life so that he may work the god’s will). They oppose consorting with demons, devils and other extra-planar creatures as Belin claims sovereignty over all worlds and their inhabitants. Belin’s aims and goals are said to be opposed by these evil spiritual creatures who seek to turn souls away from the Father of Light and into damnation. The faith is extremely evangelical and aggressive. Followers are directed by scripture to be dedicated to the promotion of their faith.

Clergy
The priesthood is divided into several major orders (one devoted to each of the prophets and their associated Avatra), and several minor ones, all subordinate to the Patriarch, the head of the Church. Ranked second in authority to the Patriarch, is the Lector, the successor-apparent to the position of Patriarch, the keeper of the holy scriptures of the faith, who is elevated to the position of Patriarch should the current holder of that office die, or otherwise leave the position. Each of the prophets has a holy order of priests devoted to their specific area of concern. Most members of the clergy are members of the cleric class, but a number are favored souls, paladins, adepts, or even experts. Each order has very slightly different vows, duties, and training, and emphasizes the teachings of that particular archangel. Priests of the Church use a small bracelet with thumbnail sized symbolic images of the seven archangels as their holy symbol (plus the symbolic image of the angel or saint to which a priest of a minor order is devoted), calling upon the powers of various archangels at different times for different purposes. Though all seven archangels are present in all holy symbols, the symbolic image of the archangel, angel, or saint to which a particular priest is devoted to will be depicted larger and more prominently than the others. The cycle of the solar orb plays a prominent role in religious ceremonies. The High Holy Day of the Church is midsummer’s day, when members of the faith celebrate Belin’s eternal powers on the longest day of the year. Important religious ceremonies also take place on midwinter’s day as they supplicate Belin to bring forth the sun again and bless the world with light. Each of the seven Avatra and many of the other angels and saints recognized by Belin’s faith also have designated holy days. Church teachings primarily focus on promoting the seven cardinal virtues of faith, fortitude, hope, justice, love, prudence, and temperance, and discouraging the seven capital sins of avarice, envy, gluttony, lust, pride, sloth, and wrath.

Archangels
Ranked first in primacy after Belin amongst the celestial host are the seven archangels, also called the Avatra. There are seven major priestly orders, each committed to the teachings of one of the seven archangels. Each of these major orders is headed by an archbishop, and together they form the Curia, a council that advises the Patriarch and are charged with electing a new Lector should the current Patriarch die or leave office. Those who become priests of the Church must join one of the various orders, and that choice affects domains, spells, and prestige classes available to them. All Good clerics, no matter their order, may choose from the Good, Law, and Sun domains, but members of the different orders each have one or two other unique domains available to them. All priests share some basic vows in which they promise to obey the commands of their superiors within the church, obey Church law, promote and defend the faith, and aid the weak, poor, and helpless.

Auriel: Peacemaker, the Moonmaiden. Appearing as a silver-haired woman clad in dazzling robes of matching color, Auriel is a patron of healers, sentries, guardians, and shapeshifters. Her order (the Pelerines) maintains numerous hospitals, soup-kitchens, hostels, and way-stations for the tired, poor, hungry, and indigent. During the War in Yesod, she surrendered daylight as a sacrifice to defeat the jotunar, but Belin raised the moon into the night sky, and gave her dominion over it in return. Auriel is the mother of Saint Amaethon and Saint Gwydion. Her symbol is a silver crescent moon on a black field. Favored Weapon: Staff.

Caphriel: Wondermaker, the Foehammer. Caphriel appears as a burly smith, either a hugely proportioned man or dwarf with a silver beard and muscles, bearing a mighty hammer, at his magical forge and anvil that allow him to craft the stuff of the stars. He is the armorer of heaven, and can forge weapons that never miss and amulets of unfailing protective prowess. During the War in Yesod, he sacrificed his strength to gain the skill to craft mighty weapons and armor needed to defeat the jotunar, and was granted divine prowess in return. He is a patron of dwarves, smiths, craftsmen, and engineers. Caphriel’s skill in crafting is only matched by his might in battle, and he is regarded as the strongest of the archangels. His symbol is a golden hammer on a black field. Favored Weapon: Warhammer.

Hananiel: Storm Cleaver, the Tempest. Hananiel appears as a mounting wave of a man with a dark foam-crested helm, a flowing beard of sea foam, and a coat of deep green mail. When in battle he wields his war axe that he names Retaliator. He is a patron of halflings, sailors, fishermen, and others who make their livings on or near oceans, seas, or rivers. Hananiel is the master of all creatures of the seas and waters. What Hananiel sacrificed in the War in Yesod is unknown, the portion detailing Hananiel’s sacrifice in earliest known texts detailing the sacrifice of the Avatra were ruined by water damage, and no augury or divination has ever been able to fill in this gap. To this date, transcriptions of the holy text include a blank space where Hananiel’s sacrifice would be described. Hananiel is associated with the osprey and many legends that involve Hananiel depict an osprey carrying a message or portent to a hero or saint. His symbol is an osprey on a blue field. Favored Weapon: Battle Axe.

Imriel: of the Silver Arm, the Firelord. Imriel appears as a tall, red-beaded man in mail with a silver right arm and a flaming sword. Called the Firelord for his righteous wrath, teaches protecting the defenseless, opposing tyranny and destroying those who unjustly subjugate others. He is a patron of paladins, holy warriors, and those who fight or work to ensure justice is done. While Caphriel is stronger, Imriel is more ferocious, and is counted as the mightiest warrior of the celestial host. During the War in Yesod, Imriel sacrificed his right arm to defeat the jotunar, and was rewarded with an arm of silver and an unfailing courage. He teaches leadership through service, strength through justice, power through purity, perfection of craft and self, sacrifice for the good of all, and might through righteousness. His symbol is a silver gauntlet holding a flaming sword on a black field. Favored Weapon: Longsword.

Jophiel: All-Seeing, the Binder. Jophiel appears as a silver-eyed, aged, white-haired man in heavy robes, carrying a weighty book. Jophiel is the patron of law, judgment, history, knowledge, and other endeavors of the mind, including magic. Jophiel is a patron of judges, sages, prophets and seers, and oversees a great library of thousands of tomes. In the War in Yesod, Jophiel sacrificed his eyes to defeat the jotunar, and was rewarded with all-seeing silver eyes and great gifts of wisdom. Jophiel created writing and bestowed that gift to the mortal races, and the stars are said to move in patterns established by him, and serve as vehicles of prophecy for those who can read them. In addition, Jophiel is the gatekeeper of Yesod, judging those who would enter therein according to the laws written down by Belin following the War. Jophiel’s order maintains several libraries, schools, and colleges. Jophiel’s symbol is an open book with an eye on each page on a white field. Favored Weapon: Spear.

Malchidiel: Wind-Rider, the Morninglord. Malchidiel appears as a handsome perpetually youthful man with a silver tongue wielding a bow that fires arrows made from the sun’s light. During the War in Yesod he sacrificed his tongue and voice to overcome the jotunar, and was rewarded with a silver tongue and a voice of divine purity and clarity. He is a patron of bards, poetry, art, literature, and gnomes, and is regarded as the most skillful archangel. Malchidiel is the master of the creatures of the air, and eagles are said to be especially favored by him. His symbol is three golden arrows on a purple field. Favored Weapon: Bow.

Uriel: Goldenheart, the Earthmother. Uriel appears as a silver-skinned, beautiful, gentle, and soft-spoken woman clad in green gossamer with long flowing brown hair and green eyes. Uriel is always depicted mounted on a white horse that can outrun any steed surrounded by summer songbirds. Her devotees may often be identified by the green and brown clothing they favor. She is mother and protector of all growing things, and, by her human consort Pwyll, the mother of Saint Pryderi, Uriel sacrificed her beauty during the War in Yesod to defeat the jotunar, but was rewarded with a shining visage of silver that radiated divine light. She is a patron of farmers and rural folk who rely upon the bounty of growing things for their livelihood, and is mistress of the beasts of field and wood. Uriel also maintains and guards the clouds, and brings fair weather to nourish green growing plants and ensure bountiful harvests. Her symbol is a sheaf of wheat under a yellow songbird on a green field. Favored Weapon: Sickle.

Angels
Ranked just beneath the seven Avatra in the celestial host are the venerated angels. In addition to the seven major orders devoted to the Avatra, a number (in the neighborhood of a few dozen) of these subordinate angels have followings. These minor orders vary in size and importance, some being reasonably significant, and others consisting of a single shrine or monastery dedicated to their veneration, or even merely an order of holy warrior-knights devoted to their cause. The angels have more specific areas of interest than the archangels, and thus their devoted priests may have fewer domains available to choose from. While there are far too many angelic orders to list them all, a partial list would include Oriel, the Angel of Love, Raphael, the Angel of Vigilance, Remiel, the Angel of Mercy, Tahariel, the Angel of Light, and Zuriel, the Angel of Battle.

Saints
While the Avatra and other angels are members of the celestial host, the saints are mortals who, through their exemplary virtue and great deeds in the service to Belin, have been canonized as paragons of the faith. The most honored saints of the faith, sometimes referred to as the "Sainted Prophets", are the eight prophets who wrote the eight holy books of the faith: Saint Pavek the Oracle, Saint Olav the Devoted, Saint Rurik the Just, Saint Ilisa the Faithful, Saint Tewdwr the Obediant, Saint Maurelle the Righteous, Saint Llyn the Repentant, and Saint Duana the Merciful. Each of the eight Orthodox Sainted Prophets has a holy order of priests devoted to their specific teachings, charged with keeping the integrity of the liturgy of the Sainted Prophet associated with their order. Each Order has very slightly different vows, duties and training particular to itself and emphasizes the teachings of that particular prophet. While the seven orders devoted to the Avatra are each headed by an Arcbishop, the eight orders devoted to the Sainted Prophets are headed by a Provost, and are accountable to the Lector rather than the Patriarch. Priests of Belin often use a small bracelet with thumbnail sized images of the eight prophets as magical talismans.

The Church, under the guidance of the Lector, reviews petitions for sainthood, determining if the deeds and virtues of the potential inductee merit recognition, and, if accepted, accepts their clergy as officials of the Church, and appends the records of their deeds to the holy writ. In addition to the eight prophets, the list of saints recognized by the Church is quite extensive, encompassing several dozen at least, while the number of “unofficial” saints is impossible to measure, as many of the more obscure “unofficial” saints have followings that extend no further than the village where they were born, or a mere handful of devoted disciples. Although a disproportionate number of saints were clerics or paladins in life, their ranks are drawn from virtually all professions and backgrounds, the only requirements being devout belief and deeds in service of the faith. Most were human, although a number of dwarven, gnomish, and halfling saints have been canonized. Due to their resistance to conversion to the faith, there are only a few elvish saints, and as of yet, no orcish or half-orcish saints have been officially recognized. While there are saints for many different endeavors, the most popular "lesser" saints in Dunmar and surrounding areas are the warrior-saints, such as Saint Colwyn (patron saint of dragon-slayers), also known as the White Warrior, canonized for slaying the great wyrm Odhrean in battle, or Saint Olvin (patron saint of giant hunters), canonized for overcoming an epic two-headed giant by transforming him to stone (the giant’s remains are now known as Mount Pire). Saint Gwydion (patron saint of justicars) is another popular warrior-saint, known for his pursuit of those seeking to avoid the sure hand of justice. Like the venerated subordinate angels, priests devoted to the venerated Saints generally don’t have as wide a range of options as those who are members of the seven major orders, for example, they are usually only able to select from one additional domain instead of two.

Ranks within the Church
Listed below are the basic ranks of Church hierarchy. Although there is a rough correlation between rank within the clergy, and the relative personal power of the priest, this is by no means a constant. There are certainly many priests of high rank who are not high level characters, just as there are certainly many clerics and adepts with tremendous personal power who remain deacons or priests throughout their lives. Initiates and deacons are usually referred to by the title brother (or sister), while priests of the rank of vicar and above are usually referred to by the title holy father or holy mother (or merely father or mother). In addition to these ecclesiastical rankings, there are a number of administrative offices and honorific titles within the Church.

• Patriarch: The patriarch is the overseer of the faith and head of the Church. The patriarch chooses and ordinarily installs the seven archbishops when a vacancy arises, and is often called upon to resolve matters of scriptural interpretation and establish accepted dogma.


• Lector: The Lector is the keeper and interpreter of scripture. The reader is also the patriarch-in-waiting, and ascends to that position should the current Patriarch die or otherwise leave the office. An important, but rarely used responsibility of the office of reader is to assess and evaluate petitions to canonize individuals as Saints.


• Archbishop: There are seven priests who hold this rank, one devoted to each of the seven archangels. Each archbishop heads one of the major orders, and is responsible for the administration and conduct of their underlings. Together, the seven archbishops form the Curia, a council that advises the patriarch, and is also charged with electing a new Lector should that become necessary. Only an archbishop may ordain bishops of his own order, and an archbishop also has the authority to ordain lower ranking members of his order should he choose to do so.


• Provost: There are eight priests who hold this rank, one devoted to each of the eight sainted prophets. As these holy orders are concerned with maintaining the integrity of the scriptures of the church, they maintain institutions of learning: Academies devoted primarily to the study of theology, but which have branched out to encompass almost all forms of academic scholarship from natural philosophy to arcane inquiry and research. Almost all libraries, schools, and other institutions of study were founded by and maintained by one of these holy orders. Like an Archbishop, a Provost has the authority to ordain priests within their order.


• Inquisitor: Inquisitors frequently circulate among the diocese of the faith checking on the condition of the provinces, essentially serving as inspectors for the Patriarch to ensure orthodoxy in the Church. A member of this rank is typically assigned to review the administration of a number of dioceses, and is answerable only to the Lector or the Patriarch.


• Bishop: Each diocese of the Church is headed by a bishop. The bishop is the chief liturgical figure in the diocese and is distinguished from the priest principally by the power to confer holy orders and to act as the usual minister of confirmation. The bishop has the highest jurisdictional powers within the diocese: he has the right to admit priests to his diocese and to exclude them from the practice of ministry within it, and he assigns priests of his diocese to parishes and other duties. The bishop often delegates administrative details to his vicar-general, his chancellor, or other officials. In larger dioceses he may be assisted by auxiliary or suffragan bishops.


• Priest or Vicar: Priests are usually given the responsibility of acting as minister to a flock of worshippers assigned to serve as the religious head of a parish. Many priests also hold religious administrative posts aiding more senior members of the clergy to administer their offices. Certain religious ceremonies must be presided over by a clergyman of at least the rank of priest, although exceptions are occasionally made in extraordinary cases.


• Deacon: A deacon is a junior priest, usually serving as an assistant to a more senior member of the clergy, or who has merely taken up a life as a mendicant or wandering priest (in which case, he is usually addressed by the title friar). A deacon is fully ordained, and authorized to act on behalf of the Church with respect to a number of matters, including leading the faithful in services.


• Initiate: An initiate is the first rank of the clergy, usually indicating a member who has taken his initial set of vows, but has not yet completed his training and education or been fully ordained into the priesthood.

Home     Fallen Empire